A nationwide program sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League is prompting an angry response from Armenians upset by the organization’s stance on the Armenian genocide. Armenian residents of the Boston suburb of Watertown want the local “No Place for Hate” program to sever its ties with the ADL, the Boston Globe reported. “No Place for Hate” certifies individual communities that undertake anti-bias programming. At issue is the ADL’s refusal to endorse a proposed congressional bill that would recognize the Turkish murder of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians during World War I. Turkey refuses to acknowledge the genocide, and has enlisted the help of several prominent political figures to help defeat the bill. The ADL contends that it doesn’t take positions on historical issues. Other Jewish groups, including B’nai B’rith, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the American Jewish Committee have taken no position on the resolution.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.